For businesses of all sizes, Microsoft 365 offers a comprehensive suite of apps that can drive collaboration and efficiency.
With its cloud-based infrastructure, Microsoft 365 enables teams to work seamlessly from anywhere, combining familiar software tools with advanced online collaboration features.
Let’s dive into the key apps included with Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium plans and how they can benefit your team.
Core Microsoft 365 Apps: What’s Included?
In addition to popular apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium plans offer a wide range of tools tailored for business productivity, collaboration, and security.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the core apps you get with most business packages:
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote: Essential tools for document creation, spreadsheets, presentations, email, and note-taking.
- OneDrive and SharePoint: Cloud storage and collaboration hubs that make file sharing and document management secure and efficient.
- Microsoft Teams: Microsoft’s communication platform that supports instant messaging, voice and video calls, meetings, and file sharing.
- Exchange: Email hosting with custom domains, allowing a professional email experience fully integrated with Outlook.
- Microsoft Defender: Security tools to help protect devices, data, and applications from cyber threats.
- Access and Publisher: Tools for database management and document design (included in Business Standard and Premium but not in Business Basic).
For a comprehensive list of applications included in the standard and premium packages, see below::
- Word: A versatile word processing application for creating and editing documents.
- Excel: Powerful spreadsheet software used for data analysis and visualization.
- Outlook: Email client that also manages calendars, tasks, and contacts.
- PowerPoint: A presentation program used to create and display slideshows.
- OneNote: A digital notebook for capturing, storing, and sharing all types of information.
- OneDrive: Cloud storage service for saving files and photos securely online.
- SharePoint: A collaboration tool for businesses to share and manage content, knowledge, and applications.
- Microsoft Teams: A communication platform integrating chat, meetings, notes, and attachments.
- Exchange: Email server software that also manages calendars and contact information.
- Microsoft Lists: A smart tracking app for information storage and organization.
- Microsoft Forms: A tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls to collect feedback.
- Access: Database management system that helps in storing data for reference, reporting, and analysis.
- Publisher: Desktop publishing application used to create professional documents and marketing materials.
- Microsoft Defender: Security software providing protection against malware, spyware, and other threats.
Standout Apps in Microsoft 365 for Business
While all these apps are essential, some truly stand out in terms of their impact on productivity and collaboration.
1. OneNote
OneNote goes beyond basic note-taking by allowing users to integrate documents, screenshots, and even audio directly into their notes. Ideal for on-the-go users, OneNote shines on tablets and touchscreens. This intuitive layout helps you stay organised and ensures that important meeting notes are never misplaced.
2. Outlook
Outlook is the go-to email platform for many businesses due to its robust email management, calendar integration, and collaboration features. It enables email filtering, notifications for high-priority messages, and the ability to “@mention” teammates to keep them informed. Integration with Teams also means that conversations can be easily shared via email, adding a flexible option for record-keeping and follow-up.
3. Publisher
Perfect for users without design experience, Publisher provides templates for creating visual documents such as newsletters, leaflets, and reports. This app is only available on the desktop with Business Standard and Premium plans, making it an excellent resource for quickly generating high-quality marketing materials.
4. Access
Access is a powerful tool for database management, enabling businesses to store and manage data without needing extensive coding skills. You can even create custom business apps to handle specific tasks or workflow processes, a valuable feature for growing businesses that need adaptable solutions.
5. Microsoft Teams
Teams centralises workplace communications, allowing instant messaging, video calls, and online meetings—all from a single platform. The app integrates with the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem, so files from OneDrive and SharePoint are easily accessible. With numerous plugins available, from project management tools to fun team-building quizzes, Teams is highly customisable to your team’s unique needs.
Enhancing Your Microsoft 365 Experience with Add-Ons
Microsoft 365’s App Store allows businesses to further customise their experience by adding third-party tools and extensions. For instance, you can integrate apps like Adobe Photoshop or Slack, enabling teams to work within a familiar ecosystem while using the tools they need.
Get Started With Microsoft 365 Today!
As part of our Protect & Grow plans, Dial A Geek offers comprehensive and secure Microsoft 365 management tailored to your business. From setup to ongoing support, we ensure you get the most out of Microsoft 365’s productivity tools while keeping your data secure.
Get in touch today to learn how we can streamline your Microsoft 365 experience and enhance your team’s productivity.
Dial A Geek has already helped over 1,000 businesses in Bristol and across the UK thrive with smart tech solutions. Call us at 0117 369 4335 or use the button below to schedule a consultation with chief geek Gildas Jones.